Communications via a receiving device network

ABSTRACT

A receiving device system arranged to distribute voice communications includes first and second receiving devices, each having a personal area network (PAN) transceiver, a programming transceiver to receive multimedia content, and a local area network (LAN) transceiver. The second receiving device is configured to accept input data via its PAN transceiver from a communications device, initiate communications with the first receiving device via the LAN, and communicate voice data received via the second PAN transceiver to the first receiving device via the LAN. The voice data is passed to a communications device via the PAN transceiver of the first receiving device. Users associated with each of the two communications devices may carry on a voice conversation via voice data being passed through each of the two receiving devices.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to services associated withvoice communications and, more particularly, but not exclusively,relates to voice communications passed through at least two receivingdevices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Receiving devices such as set top boxes typically receive television orother multimedia program content from one or more program providers. Thereceiving devices perform some amount of processing upon the receivedprogram content and pass the processed program content to one or morepresentation devices such as a television. Each receiving device in alocation such as a home may maintain one or more connections to one ormore program providers. Examples include satellite connections, cableconnections, Internet connections, recorded media connections, and thelike. Multiple receiving devices within a location may share suchconnections to obtain program content.

Some or all of the receiving devices of a location may be interconnectedwithin a local area network using, for example, wired or wirelessEthernet network modules, HOMEPLUG modules, Bluetooth modules, WiFimodules, coaxial cable, and the like. The interconnected receivingdevices may communicate program-related data with each other utilizingthe local area network.

Mobile communications devices have become ubiquitous in everyday life.People use wireless mobile communications devices throughout the entireday, and people often have their mobile devices nearby when they arewatching a television program or other program content delivered by areceiving device to a presentation device. In many cases, two people indifferent locations are watching the same program. During the course ofwatching the program, one person may want to talk to the other person.The proliferation of mobile communications devices enables theconversation to take place without either person moving from theircurrent position in proximity to a device that is presenting theprogram.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A new communications system passes voice data via a receiving devicenetwork. Mobile communications devices (e.g., smart phones) are pairedwith the receiving devices (e.g., set top boxes) found in many homes andbusinesses.

The mobile device user is able to initiate a voice call via a receivingdevice. The voice data associated with the call is communicated from afirst mobile device to a first receiving device via a first network. Thefirst receiving device communicates the voice data to a second receivingdevice via a receiving device network. And the second receiving devicecommunicates the voice data to a second mobile device via a secondnetwork.

The first and second networks may be personal area networks such asformed between Bluetooth-enabled devices. The receiving device networkmay be implemented via a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), or via some other network that permits the first and secondreceiving devices to uniquely identify each other and bi-directionallycommunicate data.

A receiving device system arranged to distribute voice communicationsmay be summarized as including a first receiving device, which has afirst personal area network (PAN) transceiver arranged for directcommunications with a selected first communications device via a firstPAN, a programming transceiver arranged to receive multimedia content,and a first local area network (LAN) transceiver. The receiving devicesystem may also include a second receiving device, which has a secondLAN transceiver arranged for communications with the first LANtransceiver and a second PAN transceiver arranged for directcommunications with a selected second communications device via a secondPAN. The second receiving device is further arranged to accept inputdata associated with the first receiving device via the second PAN fromthe selected second communications device, initiate communications overa LAN with the first receiving device via the second LAN transceiver,and communicate voice data received via the second PAN to the firstreceiving device via the LAN.

Embodiments of a first receiving device to receive multimediaprogramming are configured to output video data and audio data to atleast one presentation device and further configured to communicatevoice data between the first receiving device and a second receivingdevice. The embodiments of the first receiving device may be summarizedas including a transceiver module having at least one communicationscircuit and a processor module coupled to the transceiver module. Theprocessor module is configured to direct communications between thefirst receiving device and a second receiving device, directcommunications between the first receiving device and at least oneexternal device, the at least one external device having an audio inputcircuit and an audio output circuit, and receive a call request from theat least one external device, the call request identifying the secondreceiving device.

A method to communicate voice data using at least three non-overlappingnetworks may be summarized as including communicating voice data betweena first communications device and a first receiving device via a firstpersonal area network, the first receiving device arranged to presentfirst programming content to a first presentation device, communicatingthe voice data between the first receiving device and a second receivingdevice via a receiving device network, the second receiving devicearranged to present second programming content to a second presentationdevice, and communicating the voice data between the second receivingdevice and a second communications device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with referenceto the following drawings, wherein like labels refer to like partsthroughout the various views unless otherwise specified. The sizes andrelative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawnto scale. For example, the shapes of various elements are selected,enlarged, and positioned to improve drawing legibility. The particularshapes of the elements as drawn have been selected for ease ofrecognition in the drawings. One or more embodiments are describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates at least two embodiments of a system to communicatevoice data via a receiving device network;

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting set of communications devices that maybe used in a system to communicate voice data over a receiving devicenetwork;

FIG. 3A is a receiving device block diagram;

FIG. 3B is a communications device block diagram;

FIG. 4A illustrates one embodiment of a memory configured in a receivingdevice and in addition, or in the alternative, in a computing serverresource;

FIG. 4B illustrates one embodiment of a memory configured in acommunications device;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a system to communicatevoice data over a receiving device network; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a system to communicatevoice data over a receiving device network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system to communicate voice data over a receivingdevice network 100. The system 100 illustrates two distinct homes in aneighborhood, but other buildings in other geographic areas are alsocontemplated. A first premises 104 is a home where people, such as afamily, live. A second premises 106 is also a home where differentpeople live, such as a different family.

In the first premises 104, a first user 111 is reclining in a chair andwatching a television program displayed via a presentation device via afirst receiving device 141. The first user 111 is holding a firstcommunications device 121 (i.e., a remote control). The firstcommunications device 121 communicates data between the firstcommunications device 121 and the first receiving device 141. The datastream communicated between the first communications device 121 and thefirst receiving device 141 is represented by 151. In one embodiment, thefirst user 111 is a mother in the family.

A second user 112 is present in the first premises 104. The second user112 may be a daughter in the family. The daughter 112 in the embodimentof FIG. 1 is working on homework in an upstairs room of the premises104. The daughter is wearing a personal area network (PAN)communications device 122. Within the embodiment of FIG. 1, the PANcommunications device 122 may be considered the second communicationsdevice.

The PAN communications device 122 in the embodiment may conform to aBluetooth protocol, an IEEE wireless protocol, or another PAN protocol.Often, the second communications device 122 is paired with a mobiletelephone device (not shown). The second communications device 122facilitates voice communications from the user 112, through the mobiletelephone device, to another telephone device, via a cellular network.

In the upstairs room of the first premises 104 of FIG. 1, a secondreceiving device 142 is coupled to a presentation device. The secondreceiving device 142 is receiving power, but the second receiving device142 may or may not appear “on,” and the second receiving device may ormay not be providing content to an associated presentation device. Thatis, the receiving device 142 may be in an active state or a standbystate. The second communications device 122 communicates data betweenthe second communications device 122 and the second receiving device142. The data stream communicated between the second communicationsdevice 122 and the second receiving device 142 is represented by 152.

In the second premises 106, another user, third user 113, is recliningin a chair. The third user 113 is wearing a PAN communications device123. Within the embodiment of FIG. 1, the PAN communications device 123may be considered a third communications device. The PAN communicationsdevice 123 may be substantially like the PAN communications device 122worn by the daughter 112 in premises 104.

In a conventional implementation, the daughter 112 (i.e., the seconduser) may carry on a telephone conversation with the third user 113 viaone or more cellular telephone networks. Each of the second and thirdusers 112, 113 produces and hears audio data. The audio data isconverted to and from digital data via the respective PAN communicationsdevice 122, 132. Each PAN communications device 122, 132 is paired witha respective mobile telephone device (not shown) that passes the digitaldata across a telecommunications network.

Nearby the third user 113 in the second premises 106 of FIG. 1, a thirdreceiving device 143 is coupled to a presentation device. The thirdcommunications device 123 is arranged to communicate data between thethird communications device 123 and the third receiving device 143. Thedata stream communicated between the third communications device 123 andthe third receiving device 143 is represented by 153.

A wide area network (WAN) 102 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The WAN 102facilitates communications 155 to and from devices of the first premises104. The WAN facilitates communications 156 to and from devices of thesecond premises 106. Other computing devices such as computing serverresources 108 may also be part of the system to communicate voice dataover a receiving device network 100. The WAN 102 facilitatescommunications 157 to and from the computing server resource 108.

In some cases, receiving devices may be associated with the computingserver resource 108. The computing server resource 108 may be referredto as “cloud services,” “cloud-based computing,” “server farms,” orother similarly functional external services. In some cases, thecomputing server resource 108 is accessed by the receiving devices viathe WAN 102. The computing server resource 108 may be used by thereceiving devices to store information received or generated within thereceiving devices. In this way, other devices that are remote from onereceiving device may have access to the stored information. In oneembodiment, information related to particular identification details ofmany receiving devices is stored within the computing server resource108.

WAN 102 includes wired and wireless network communications mediums. WAN102 may encompass “the Internet,” land-line based telecommunicationnetworks, cellular based communications networks, and othercommunications networks configured to operate over large geographicareas and in addition or in the alternative, configured tocommunicatively connect many devices. WAN 102 may include fiber opticcables, copper wire data paths, satellite communications equipmentcomponents, cable programming communications equipment components, andother data communications equipment components.

Also evident in FIG. 1 is a receiving device network communications path154. A receiving device network includes two or more receiving devicescommunicatively coupled via one or more communications mediums.

In FIG. 1, one embodiment of a receiving device communications networkincludes first receiving device 141, second receiving device 142, andcommunications path 154. This embodiment may be called a local receivingdevice communications network 158. The communications path 154facilitates data communications between the two receiving devices.Communications paths of the receiving device communications network mayinclude components that follow a particular protocol, for example,ZigBee/RF4CE, wired and wireless protocols compliant with an IEEEstandard (e.g., IEEE 802.11 WiFi, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, and the like),Bluetooth, Universal Serial Bus (USB), cellular, multimedia over coax(MoCA), and others.

In the local receiving device network 158 embodiment of FIG. 1, thefirst and second receiving devices 141 and 142 are network aware of eachother via one or more unique identifiers associated with each respectivereceiving device. Stated differently, each receiving device is uniquelyidentified within the local receiving device network 158, and the uniqueidentifier can be used to route data communications to and from theassociated receiving device. A media access control (MAC) address may bea unique identifier within a local receiving device network 158. Otherunique identifiers of receiving devices within a local receiving devicenetwork 158 may include an assigned name (e.g., “Living Room Set TopBox”), some other character-based combination, a storage mediumidentifier (e.g., a hard drive ID), a cellular chipset identifier suchas an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI), a serialnumber, or some other identifier.

In FIG. 1, a second embodiment of a receiving device communicationsnetwork 159 includes first, second, and third receiving devices 141,142, and 143, along with communications paths 154, 155, and 156. Thissecond embodiment may be called a wide receiving device communicationsnetwork 159. Along the lines of the local receiving device network 158embodiment, each receiving device in a wide receiving device network 159is uniquely identified within the network. In some cases, a uniqueidentifier within a local receiving device network 158 is used as apartial unique identifier in a wide receiving device network 159. Forexample, a unique identifier in a local receiving device network 158 maybe joined with a unique identifier for the premises. The uniqueidentifier for the premises may include one or more of an Internetprotocol (IP) address, a service provider account number, a receivingdevice type and serial number, or some other identifier.

In FIG. 1, a local receiving device network 158 within the firstpremises 104 may include a first receiving device 141 uniquelyidentified within the network 158 as “Living Room Set Top Box.” A secondreceiving device 142 may be uniquely identified within the network 158as “Upstairs Set Top Box.” The express identifiers or a digital valueassociated with each respective identifier can be used by each receivingdevice to communicate data to and from another receiving device.

Further in FIG. 1, a wide receiving device network 159 may uniquelyidentify the first receiving device 141 by joining a unique accountname, such as “Premises #1” with the local receiving device network ID,“Living Room Set Top Box.” The second receiving device 142 may beuniquely identified by joining the unique account name “Premises #1”with the local receiving device network ID, “Upstairs Set Top Box.” Athird receiving device 143 may be uniquely identified by only the uniqueaccount name “Premises #2” since no local receiving device network isembodied in the second premises 106, however, a local receiving devicenetwork ID or some other identifier may also be configured. Of course itis recognized that a wide receiving device network identifier is notlimited to a unique account name, a specific IP address, or any otherspecific identifier. Instead, the wide receiving device networkidentifier can take any desirable form.

The network-wide unique identifiers associated with each receivingdevice in a local receiving device network 158 and in a wide receivingdevice network 159 are stored as digital data in one or more computingdevices. For example, in a local receiving device network 158, theidentifier of each device in the network may be stored locally withineach receiving device of the network 158. In a wide receiving devicenetwork 159, the identifier of each device may be stored in whole or inpart in a WAN-accessible computing device such as computing serverresource 108.

Two non-limiting examples of a system to communicate voice data over asystem to communicate voice data over a receiving device network 100 arenow described. In a first example, the first premises 104 includes alocal receiving device network 158 comprised of at least two receivingdevices 142, 142 and one communications path 154 coupled to eachreceiving device in the network. A first user 111, the mother, watchesTV while holding a first communications device 121, a remote control. Atsome point, the mother wants to communicate to a second user 112, thedaughter, who is in an upstairs room. The mother 111 may send anotification to the daughter 112 via the receiving devices 141, 142. Theremote control 121 can be used to facilitate access to an electronicidentity of the daughter. The receiving devices 141, 142 may communicateto recognize that the daughter 112 is currently in proximity to thesecond receiving device 142. Upon such recognition, the first receivingdevice 141 may communicate to the second receiving device 142 byemploying the unique identifier “Upstairs Set Top Box” and sending dataacross communications path 154.

Upon receiving a request to communicate from the first receiving device141, the second receiving device 142 will take action to notify thedaughter 112 that an incoming call waiting for an acknowledgement. Theaction may include waking the receiving device 142 from a sleep orstandby mode if necessary, presenting certain identifying information ona presentation device, blinking visual output identifiers, playingsounds or tones, or some other action. In the example, the daughter 112may acknowledge the notification, pair her communications device 122with the second receiving device 142, and conduct a voice conversationwith the mother 111. The voice data is passed across communicationspaths 151, 152, and 154.

In a second non-limiting example, the first premises 104 includes alocal receiving device network 158 comprised of receiving devices 141,142 and communications path 154 coupled to receiving devices 141, 142. Auser 112, the daughter, is in an upstairs room in proximity to thesecond receiving device 142. Another user 113 is in a room of the secondpremises 106 in proximity to another receiving device 143. A widereceiving device network 159 comprises three receiving devices 141, 142,143 and communications paths 154, 155, and 156.

In the second non-limiting example, the third user 113 in premises 106is watching a program presented via the third receiving device 143. Thethird user 113 wants to communicate with the second user 112, thedaughter, who is in a different premises 104. The third user 113 willattempt to initiate the communications via the third receiving device143.

To facilitate the initiation of the call, the third communicationsdevice 143 may retrieve data locally or retrieve data from a memory of acomputing server resource 108. The retrieved data may include anidentifier of premises 104 and a local identifier of “Upstairs Set TopBox.” The retrieved data may also be an identifier of a mobile deviceassociated with the second user 112. By combining the identifyinginformation, the third receiving device 143 is configured to send datato the second receiving device 142. In a sequence along the lines of alocal receiving device network embodiment, the second user 112 isnotified of a request for a voice communications with the third user113, and the voice data associated with the communications may becommunicated across communications paths 152, 153, 155, and 156. Thus,even though both user 113 and user 112 have mobile telephone devices,the voice conversation is conducted without using the mobile telephonedevices. Instead, the voice conversation is conducted across a widereceiving device network 159.

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-limiting set of communications devices that maybe used in a system to communicate voice data over a receiving devicenetwork 100. The remote control communications device 121 of FIG. 1 isillustrated in more detail in FIG. 2. The personal area network (PAN)communications devices 122, 123 of FIG. 1 are not illustrated in FIG. 2,but other communications devices are. A smart appliance 124 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The smart appliance 124, a refrigerator in thiscase, includes an input/output module 124 a. Other communicationsdevices illustrated in FIG. 2 include a personal computer 125, a mobiletelecommunications device (i.e., a “smartphone”) 126, a smart watchwearable computer 127, a smart glasses wearable computer 128, and atablet computer 129. Other personal computing devices may also be usedin the system 100 and function as all or part of a communicationsdevice.

Communications device 121 is a remote control device. The communicationsdevice 121 may be used to direct operations in a receiving device suchas displaying a television programming guide, selecting particularprogramming for presentation, ordering restricted content from aprogramming provider, and the like. The communications device 121 mayinclude other optional features such as a display 121 a, an audio outputmodule 121 b, an audio input module 121 c, a visual indicator module 121d, a tactile output module 121 e, and a transceiver 121 f.

The remote control communications device 121 includes modules configuredto facilitate communications of voice data over a receiving devicenetwork. The display 121 a, in conjunction with input features of thecommunications device 121, may be used to identify local or remote usersavailable for voice communications. The display 121 a may also be usedto communicate a status of a voice communications and other information.The audio input and output modules 121 b, 121 c allow a user to speakand hear voice communications data. Electronic circuitry facilitates theconversion between signals in an audio spectrum and signals in a digitalspectrum. A visual indicator 121 d may include one or light sources suchas an LED, LCD, incandescent bulb, or some other visual indicator. Whenanother user is requesting initiation of a voice conversation, thevisual indicator module 121 d may provide an alert to the user. Atactile feedback module 121 e may be a vibrator or other source oftactile feedback. One or more of the visual indicator module 121 d,tactile output module 121 e, and audio output module 121 b may provide anotification alert to an associated user. Communications of digital databetween the communications device 121 and a receiving device is passedthrough the transceiver 121 f, which is described herein.

The communications devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 generally include one ormore of an audio input module and an audio output module along withelectronic circuitry configured to convert audio data to digital dataand in addition or in the alternative, to convert digital data to audiodata. A single module 124 a configured for input and output isillustrated in the smart appliance 124, however, it is recognized thatthe other illustrated computing devices also include either or both ofinput and output audio capability.

The communications devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 also include a transceiverconfigured for short range communications. The transceiver may includecomponents that follow a particular protocol, for example, ZigBee/RF4CE,wired and wireless protocols compliant with an IEEE standard (e.g., IEEE802.11 WiFi, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, and the like), Bluetooth, UniversalSerial Bus (USB), cellular, multimedia over coax (MoCA), and others. Thetransceivers of the communications devices of FIGS. 1 and 2 may becooperatively participate in a personal area network with a receivingdevice. The transceivers of the communications devices of FIGS. 1 and 2cooperate to enable communications paths 151, 152, and 153 of FIG. 1

FIG. 3A is a receiving device 144 block diagram. FIG. 3B is acommunications device 129 block diagram. The receiving device 144 may bea receiving device of the type 141-143 illustrated in FIG. 1. Thecommunications device 129 may be a communications device of the type121-128 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The receiving device 144 of FIG. 3A may be employed in a system tocommunicate voice data over a receiving device network 100 (FIG. 1).Receiving devices 144 may be interchangeably referred to by a generaldevice description such as a “television converter,” “receiver,”“set-top box,” “television receiving device,” “television receiver,”“programming receiver,” “television recording device,” “satelliteset-top box,” “satellite receiver,” “cable set-top box,” “cablereceiver,” and/or “television tuner.” Accordingly, the receiving device144 may be any suitable converter device or electronic equipment that isoperable to receive programming. Further, the receiving device 144 mayitself include user interface devices, such as buttons or switches. Inmany applications, the receiving device 144 may be controlled by aremote control device 121 (FIG. 2) in such a manner as to provideenhanced functionality and/or an enhanced presentation of theprogramming to a user.

The receiving device 144 of FIG. 3A includes a processor 144 a. Theprocessor 144 a may be a single processing unit or a formation ofmultiple processing units. The processing unit 144 a may be or includefield programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific integratedcircuits (ASIC), digital signal processors (DSP), central processingunits (CPU), or other like devices. The processing unit 144 a of areceiving device 144 may be broadly referenced herein as a CPU. That is,the processor 144 a may be one or more of an FPGA, an ASIC, a DSP, or aCPU.

A memory 144 b is included in the receiving device 144. Memory 144 bcomprises any combination of volatile and non-volatile non-transitorycomputer-readable media (CRM) for reading and writing. Volatilecomputer-readable media includes, for example, random access memory(RAM). Non-volatile computer-readable media includes, for example, readonly memory (ROM), magnetic media such as a hard disk, an optical diskdrive, a flash memory device, a CD-ROM, and/or the like.

Stored in memory 144 b may be a particular collection of softwareinstructions executable by the processing unit 144 a in order to carryout some functions of the receiving device 144. The softwareinstructions operatively configure hardware and other software in thereceiving device 144 so that voice communications may be passed througha receiving device network. Information related to the receiving devicenetwork such as known contacts and other data may be stored in a filesystem in memory 144 b.

The receiving device 144 includes a user interface having an inputcircuit 144 c and an output circuit 144 d. The user interface mayoptionally include visual modules such as an LED module or a displaymodule, and an audio module (i.e., input devices such as a microphoneand/or output devices such as speakers). The receiving device 144 mayuse one or more of the user interface modules to alert, inform, oraccept input from a user that is in proximity of the receiving device144.

The receiving device 144 will typically also one or more transceivers144 e-144 n. The transceivers of FIG. 3A may be implemented in a singletransceiver circuit or multiple transceiver circuits. For example, thereceiving device 144 may include a first transceiver 144 e that iscomprised of a satellite receiver front-end, while the secondtransceiver 144 f may include a WiFi chipset, a Bluetooth chipset, aZigBee/RF4CE chipset, an infrared output device and detection device,and other separately identifiable logic modules. Generally speaking, thetransceivers of FIG. 3A are illustrated as having either programming(e.g., audio/visual television programming) capability or personal areanetwork (PAN) capability, but other configurations of modules arerecognized.

A first transceiver 144 e, for example, may be configured to receiveprogramming. In some cases, the transceiver 144 e includes circuitry forreceiving and processing satellite signals. In other cases, thetransceiver 144 e includes circuitry for receiving and processingcable-delivered signals. In still other cases, transceiver 144 eincludes circuits for receiving and processing over-the-air (OTA)signals. The transceiver 144 e enables the receiving device to receiveprogramming that can be processed and delivered to a presentationdevice.

A second transceiver 144 f of the receiving device 144 of FIG. 3A isconfigured to couple with a transceiver of a communications device 129(FIG. 3B). That is, in embodiments of the system to communicate voicedata over a receiving device network 100, the receiving device 144 andthe communications device 129 have at least one correspondingtransceiver. The corresponding transceivers are configured tocommunicate with each other such that information may be passed betweenthe communications device 129 and the receiving device 144. In a systemto communicate voice data over a receiving device network 100, thereceiving device 144 is configured to receive, process, and pass voicedata.

The second transceiver 144 f of receiving device 144 may conform to aWiFi protocol, Bluetooth protocol, ZigBee/RF4CE protocol, IEEE 1394FireWire protocol, USB protocol, Ethernet protocol, Multimedia-Over-CoaxAlliance (MoCA) protocol, infrared protocol, ultra-high frequency (UHF),or another wired or wireless protocol. The transceiver 144 f ofreceiving device 144 and a transceiver of the communications devicegenerally cooperate in a personal area network (PAN) environment or evena peer-to-peer environment to unidirectionally or bidirectionally passinformation.

Additional transceivers 144 n may be constituted as the secondtransceiver 144 f. In such embodiments, a receiving device 144 may beconcurrently coupled to two or more communications devices.

The transceivers 144 e-144 n may be individually constituted or thetransceivers may be virtually constituted. That is, in some cases, eachtransceiver includes electronic circuits dedicated to that transceiver.In other cases, electronic circuits are shared such that the appearanceof multiple transceivers is presented to processing circuitry thatpasses data through the transceivers when instead, the virtualtransceivers merely share fewer physical electronic circuits than thereare virtual transceivers.

Communications device 129 of FIG. 3B may be employed in a system tocommunicate voice data over a receiving device network 100 (FIG. 1). Thecommunications device 129 of FIG. 3B includes a processor 129 a. Theprocessor 129 a may be of the type 144 a generally described withrespect to FIG. 3A. That is, the processor 129 a may be one or more ofan FPGA, an ASIC, a DSP, or a CPU. The processors 129 a, 144 a may be,but are not necessarily, identical.

A volatile and/or non-volatile computer readable memory 129 b isincluded in the communications device 129. The memory 129 b is of thetype 144 b generally described with respect to FIG. 3A. The memory 129 bmay be identical to the memory 144 b, or the memory 129 b may bedifferent. In some cases, the memory 129 b includes components that areinternal to the communications device 129, external to thecommunications device 129, or both internal and external to thecommunications device 129.

A particular collection of software instructions executable by theprocessing unit 129 a may be stored in memory 129 b in order to carryout some functions of the communications device 129. The softwareinstructions operatively configure hardware and other software in thecommunications device 129 so that voice communications may be passed toand from a receiving device 144. The memory 129 b may be configured witha file system. The memory 129 b may store information related to areceiving device network such as identifier information of knowncontacts, parameters to form a PAN with a receiving device, and otherdata.

The communications device 129 includes a user interface having an inputcircuit 129 c and an output circuit 129 d. The input and output circuits129 c, 129 d may be of the type 144 c, 144 d generally described withrespect to FIG. 3A. That is, the user interface of FIG. 3B may haveinput and output modules to alert, inform, or accept input from a userin proximity of the communications device 129.

The communications device 129 will typically also include one or moretransceivers 129 e-129 n. The transceivers of FIG. 3B may correspond toone or more transceivers of FIG. 3A. That is, a communications device129 may be concurrently coupled to two or more other devices such as areceiving device 144 and a mobile telephone device (not shown).

FIG. 4A illustrates one embodiment of a memory 144 b configured in areceiving device 144 and in addition, or in the alternative, in acomputing server resource 108 (FIG. 1). FIG. 4B illustrates oneembodiment of a memory 129 b configured in a communications device 129.The configurations in the respective memories 144 b, 129 b enablevarious features of a system to communicate voice data over a receivingdevice network 100 discussed herein.

The memory 144 b of FIG. 4A includes a plurality of optional storagemodules including an identification module 160, a protocol module 162,an executable software program module 164, a timers module 166, aprofiles module 168, a detected users module 170, a busy mode module172, and an address book module 174.

In some cases, the memory modules of FIG. 4A are resident in a computingserver resource module 108. The identification module 160 may be used tostore and distribute identifiers to particular premises and to specificreceiving devices. For example, in a wide receiving device network 159(FIG. 1), one receiving device such as receiving device 143 in premises106 may seek an identifier of a second premises such as premises 104 oreven a second receiving device such as receiving device 142 in premises104. Whole or partial identifiers that enable the first receiving deviceto communicate with the second receiving device may be stored in theidentification module 160.

In some cases, all of the memory modules of a FIG. 4A are resident in acomputing server resource module 108. A receiving device 144 that wasnot previously enabled to carry out the features of a system tocommunicate voice data over a receiving device network may retrieve themodules of FIG. 4A and thereby become so enabled.

Some receiving device embodiments include an identification module 160within memory 144 b. In the identification module 160, a receivingdevice 144 may include an identifier to itself. The identifier to itselfmay be broadcast to other receiving devices in a local receiving devicecommunications network 158. The identifier to itself may be transmit inresponse to a specific request for identification from another receivingdevice, a communications device 129, a computing server resource 108, orfrom some other device. In many communications, the receiving device 144that is communicating will include its own identifier in communicationsdata messages to inform a recipient device of the sender.

The identification module 160 may further include identifiers of otherreceiving devices resident within a local receiving device network 158.The identifiers may be used to send data to users associated with theother receiving devices of the local receiving device network 158.

In some cases, the identification module 160 also stores identifiers ofreceiving devices that are outside of a local receiving device network158. For example, as in FIG. 1, a user 113 associated with one receivingdevice 143 may establish communications with another user 112 associatedwith another receiving device 142. Initially, the receiving device 143will learn of a unique identifier of the receiving device 142. Theunique identifier may be known to user 113, retrieved from one or moresources such as computing server resource 108, or formed from one ormore pieces of data retrieved in other ways. Upon learning of theidentifier at least one time, the receiving device 143 may store theunique identifier associated to receiving device 142 within a module160. Subsequently, if user 113 desires to begin another voiceconversation with user 112 through a receiving device network, theunique identifier may be retrieved from the identifier module 160.

Protocol module 162 includes data associated with one or morecommunications protocols. The module 162 may include information thatdirects the operations of a transceiver of a receiving device 144. Theprotocol information may be according to a Bluetooth protocol, a USBprotocol, an IEEE-compliant wired or wireless protocol, or some otherprotocol. For example, the protocol module may store particular pairingidentifiers that enable a transceiver of a receiving device 144 to pairwith a specific communications device 129 to form a personal areanetwork (PAN).

In some cases, protocol parameters stored in a protocol module 162 areassociated with a particular identifier stored in an identifier module160. In this way, the receiving device 144 may recognize when aparticular user is in proximity of the receiving device 144. That is,based on a set of protocol parameters, which may include a certainBluetooth identity of a certain communications device 129, the receivingdevice may automatically detect the presence of certain user based onthe ability of the receiving device 144 to form a PAN with acommunications device 129 associated with the certain user.

A timers module 166 may include hardware parameters associated with oneor more timers in a receiving device 144. In some cases, particularusers associated with particular communications devices 129 will onlyaccept incoming voice communications requests at certain times. Thetimers module 166 may store parameters associated with such timers. Inother cases, a first user may try to initiate a voice conversation witha second user, and the second user may have set a do-not-disturb status.If the do-not-disturb status is associated with a particular time orwith a particular program content, for example a certain televisionshow, the timers module 166 may store parameters associate with an alarmto initiate the voice conversation after the alarm expires.

A profile module 168 may store one or more profiles wherein each profilecan be associated with a different communications device 129. Often, aprofile includes a set of default data parameters, and the defaultparameters may be customized. The individual parameters may becustomized one at time, or the individual parameters may be customizedas a plurality. In some cases, a communications device 128 maycommunicate one or more of the parameters to the receiving device 144for storage in a profile module 168.

Table 1 illustrates a non-limiting set of parameters that may beincluded in a profile and stored in the profile module 168.

TABLE 1 Parameters associated with a profile Param Parameter(s) to: 1.Couple the communications device to the receiving device 2. Publish anidentifier of the associated user to local receiving devices 3. Publishan identifier of the associated user to non-local receiving devices 4.Indicate whether the associated user is busy or available 5. Indicatewhen the associated user will become available 6. Indicate which otherusers may request a conversation 7. Indicate when the user is inproximity of the receiving device 8. Publish programming content theuser is watching 9. Indicate whether the user watching a program can beinterrupted 10. Indicate how the user can be alerted to an incoming callrequest 11. Prioritize the associated user amongst other users

The parameters of Table 1, a set of which is associated with eachprofile, are used by the receiving device 144 to direct operations inthe system to communicate voice data over a receiving device network.

A detected users module 170 may be embodied as a dynamic list in thememory 144 b. In some embodiments, the detected users module 170 storesan indicator associated with each profile in the profiles module 168.When a transceiver of the receiving device 144 detects a certaincommunications device is in proximity, the receiving device 144 may setthe indicator associated with the profile. Based on the proximity, andin some cases also based on additional or different parameters, settingthe indicator associated with the profile informs other devices of thepotential availability of the user for voice communications. In othercases, setting the indicator permits the receiving device to initiate orcontinue voice data communications to and from the associatedcommunications device.

The proximity detection may be based on the ability of the receivingdevice transceiver to communicatively couple with the communicationsdevice transceiver. The proximity detection may also be based on anothermanual or automatic mechanism such as a button press, an infrareddetection device, a prediction by the receiving device based on pastcommunications sessions, or by some other means.

A busy mode module 172 may be embodied as a dynamic list in the memory144 b. In some embodiments, the busy mode module 172 stores an indicatorassociated with each profile in the profiles module 168. When the userassociated with the particular profile does not want to initiate orcontinue communications of voice data via a receiving device network, abusy mode may be indicated.

An address book module 174 in the memory 144 b may be configured tostore one or more identifiers of particular receiving devices,communications devices, premises, users, or some other entity. Theidentifiers may include one or more digital bits that representalpha-numeric characters or some other symbol. In some cases, a singleidentifier uniquely identifies an entity within a receiving devicenetwork. In other cases, a combination of two or more identifiersuniquely identifies an entity within a receiving device network. Forexample, within a local receiving device communications network 158, aname of a receiving device may be sufficient to identify a unique userfor a voice conversation. In another case, a receiving device may storemultiple profiles, and thus, initiating a voice conversation may includean receiving device identifier and a particular user identifier. Othercombinations of identifiers for local and wide receiving device networksare also contemplated.

In many cases, a specific user is associated with one or morecommunications devices. Accordingly, an identifier to a particularcommunications device may be used to identify a particular user. When areceiving device 144 detects a certain communications device inproximity, the receiving device may be able to access address bookmodule 174 and identify a particular user associated with thecommunications device 129. Upon identifying the associated user, thereceiving device may then update the detected users module 170. In somecases, based on the detection of the user, a voice conversation may beinitiated, continued, or terminated.

The programs module 164 may store software instructions executable by aprocessor, such as processor 144 a. The programs of the programs module164 carry out one or more features of a system to communicate voice dataover a receiving device network 100. The programs may be added, deleted,updated, or otherwise modified by a user. Certain programs stored inprogram module 164 are described herein, for example, with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 4B illustrates one embodiment of a memory 129 b configured in acommunications device 129. The memory 129 b includes a plurality ofoptional storage modules including an identification module 180, aprotocol module 182, an executable software program module 184, a timersmodule 186, and a profiles module 188.

The identification module 180 may include an identifier to thecommunications module 129, an identifier to a user associated with thecommunications module 129, or some other identifier. For example, theidentifier may be a username, one or more parameters to enable a PAN tobe formed with a receiving device 144, a unique digital bit sequence, orsome other data. In some cases, upon formation of a PAN with a receivingdevice 144, the receiving device 144 is aware of the communicationsdevice identifier. In other cases, after the PAN is formed, thecommunications device 129 expressly communicates the communicationsdevice identifier to the receiving device 144.

Protocol module 182 includes data associated with one or morecommunications protocols. The module 182 may include information thatdirects the operations of a transceiver of the communications device129. The protocol information may be according to a Bluetooth protocol,a USB protocol, an IEEE-compliant wired or wireless protocol, or someother protocol. For example, the protocol module may store particularpairing identifiers that enable a transceiver of the communicationsdevice 129 to pair with a nearby receiving device 144 to form a personalarea network (PAN).

In some cases, the communications device 129 may form a PAN with manyreceiving devices 144. For example, as in FIG. 1, the third user 113 isillustrated in proximity to receiving device 143. The protocol module182 directs communications of a PAN formed between the communicationsdevice 123 and receiving device 143. In such a case, an identifierassociated with the identification module 180 is communicated toreceiving device 143. The receiving device 143 may create a new profile168, a new address book entry in module 174, and other parameters andmodule in a memory 144 b of receiving device 143 will also be updated.Subsequently, if user 113 physically visits premises 104, receivingdevices 141 and 142 may also be similarly updated.

A timers module 186 of communications device memory 129 b may storetimer parameters associated with the communications device 129. In somecases, the parameters are coupled or otherwise associated withparameters of Table 1. The parameters may be used by the communicationsdevice 129 to initiate, maintain, or terminate voice conversations. Inaddition, or in the alternative, certain data from the timers module 186may be passed to a receiving device to direct how others may initiate,maintain, or terminate voice conversations with the communicationsdevice 129.

A profile module 188 will optionally store parameters as indicated inTable 1. For example, a first parameter indicates how the communicationsdevice 129 can be communicatively coupled to a receiving device. Thefirst parameters may include protocol information, identifierinformation, and other information to enable a PAN to be formed.

One or more second and third parameters direct a receiving device 144communicatively coupled to the communications device 129 regardingpublication of the identity of the communications device in a formedPAN. For example, in some cases, a user associated with thecommunications device 129 may want other receiving devices in areceiving device network to discover the identity of the user to thecoupled receiving device. In some cases, the user does not want theidentity to be published at all. In such cases, when the informationregarding the PAN between the communications device and the receivingdevice is not published, other receiving devices are not able to formvoice conversations with the user. Some embodiments may selectivelypublish the identity to only local receiving device networks but notwide receiving device networks. Some embodiments may selectively publishthe identity to only certain receiving devices, such a friend list. Someembodiments may selectively publish the identity based on othercriteria.

A fourth parameter may indicate whether a user associated with thecommunications device 129 is busy or not busy. A user may manually setsuch a parameter. A user may provide criteria by with a busy parametercan be automatically set or cleared. For example, in some cases, a userwill determine a particular time of day, day of week, or othertime-based criteria where the user will be declared busy. In othercases, a user will be declared busy during a presentation of certainprogram. Other criteria can also be used to determine when a user isbusy or not busy.

A fifth parameter may be used to inform other users via associatedreceiving devices when a user will become available. For example, inconjunction with a user declaring himself busy during presentation ofparticular programming content, a parameter may be set to inform otherswhen the programming content presentation will end.

A sixth parameter in Table 1 may include one or more identifiers withwhich the user associated with the communications device will engage ina voice conversation. The list may positively identify users who caninitiate conversations. The list may positively identify users whocannot initiate conversations. Other lists may also be formed.

A seventh parameter may be a simple detection of a particularcommunications device in proximity to the receiving device. Such aparameter in some cases is applied to make efficient use of programmaticresources. For example, software programs in program modules 164, 184may quickly use the seventh parameter to continue or terminate certainsoftware programs. Alternatively, or in addition, such a parameter maybe used to determine if multiple users are in proximity of a receivingdevice. In some embodiments, one user will only desire to initiate avoice conversation if two or more other users are in proximity to acertain receiving device. In this case, the one user may know when sucha condition is met. For example, a grandchild may only want to initiatea voice conversation if both grandparents are in proximity to areceiving device. The seventh parameter may be used in such cases toalert the grandchild when such a condition is present.

An eighth parameter may be used to inform other users what programcontent is being presented via a presentation device coupled to anassociated receiving device. Such information may be used by others todetermine if a voice conversation is desirable.

A ninth parameter may be used to indicate whether or not a user watchinga certain program can be interrupted with a voice conversation. Theninth parameter may be used to initiate, maintain, or terminate voiceconversations.

A tenth parameter may be used by a receiving device to indicate how theuser associated with a communications device coupled to the receivingdevice in a PAN can be alerted to a request for a voice conversation.For example, in some cases, visual or audio indicators on the receivingdevice may be enabled and certain outputs to the indicators may beapplied. In another example, a receiving device that is in a standbymode may be woken up and indications applied. The receiving device maybe directed to present certain content such as a screen overlay on apresentation device. In such examples, the screen overlay may indicatean identity of the user trying to initiate the voice conversation, andthe screen overlay may also indicate how the request can beacknowledged. In still other examples, the tenth parameter may directhow the communications device can provide visual, audio, tactile or someother indicators to an associated user.

An eleventh parameter may be used to prioritize voice conversationsbetween certain users. For example, in cases where two or more userseach associated with a respective communications device are in proximityto the same receiving device, contention for voice conversations may beaddressed by prioritizing the different users. In one case, theprioritization is automatically set based on when differentcommunications devices form a PAN with the receiving device. In anothercase, the priority can be manually set.

The parameters associated with the profile module 188 and associatedwith one or more individual profiles stored in profile module 168 mayinclude some or all of the parameters called out in Table 1. More orfewer parameters may also be included. The parameters may be manually orprogrammatically configurable by a user, for example via a userinterface.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a system to communicatevoice data over a receiving device network 500. Some acts of the method500 are performed in one or more communications devices. Some acts ofthe method 500 are performed in one or more receiving devices. Some actsof the method 500 are performed in computing server resources.Embodiments of the method may be understood in the context of FIGS. 1-4Bwherein certain users, communications devices, receiving devices,computing server resources, and other features are cooperativelyemployed. In many cases, operations will execute concurrently in aplurality of devices discussed herein.

An embodiment of the process illustrated in FIG. 5 is discussed withrespect to a first user and a second user. At some point duringprocessing, the first user desires to engage in a voice conversationwith the second user. The first user is associated with a firstcommunications device, and the first communications device is proximatethe first receiving device and may be configured to cooperate in apersonal area network (PAN) with the first receiving device. The seconduser is associated with a second communications device, and the secondcommunications device is proximate the second receiving device and maybe configured to cooperate in a PAN with the second receiving device.

Processing in FIG. 5 begins in the devices at 502. Prior to processingand during processing, the first and second users may be in the same ordifferent premises. In some cases, the users are watching a televisionprogram or listening to music passed from a receiving device to apresentation device. In some cases, a receiving device is in a standbymode and no programming content is being passed to a presentationdevice.

At 504, communications are initiated between communications devices andreceiving devices. The process of initiation may be continuous as somecommunications devices enter proximity to receiving devices and someother communications devices leave proximity to receiving devices. Insome cases, the initiation may merely be a receiving device detectingthe proximity of a nearby communications device. In some cases, theinitiation may include a receiving device forming a PAN such as anactive peer-to-peer relationship with a communications device. Oneexample of such an initiation is a Bluetooth connection between areceiving device and a communications device. Another example of such aninitiation is a WiFi connection between a communications device and areceiving device.

In some cases, the initiation at 504 is part of a discovery process fora local receiving device network. In the discovery process, receivingdevices that are part of a local receiving device network make availabletheir identity to other receiving devices that are part of the localreceiving device network. The identities may be broadcast in someembodiments. In other embodiments, a master receiving deviceinterrogates the network, requests the identities of other receivingdevices, and maintains a list or other structure of the identities. Insome discovery embodiments, receiving devices also detect communicationsdevices that are in proximity to the respective receiving device. Insuch cases, in addition to its own identity, each receiving device inthe local network may publish or otherwise make available the identifierof each communications device associated with the respective receivingdevice. In this way, one or more receiving devices in a premises orother local receiving device environment will store an identityassociated with each communications device coupled in the localreceiving device network. The identity of a communications device mayalso include the identity of an associated user.

In some cases, the initiation at 504 may further be part of a discoveryprocess for a wide receiving device network. After one or more localreceiving device networks conduct a discovery process, at least onereceiving device in each local receiving device network reports theidentifiers associated with communications devices and an identifier ofa respective proximate receiving device. The reporting may be made to acomputing server resource. In this way a computing server resource maybuild and maintain an address book of a plurality of identifiersrepresenting associations of users, communications devices, receivingdevices, and premises.

At 504, the first user wants to begin a voice conversation with thesecond user. If not already associated, the first communications deviceassociated with the first user forms an active PAN with its proximatefirst receiving device. For example, the Bluetooth transceivers of boththe first communications device and the first receiving device arecommunicatively coupled. The first user may use the first communicationsdevice along with the first receiving device to create the call requestto the second user. The first user may, for example, access an addressbook or other representation of user identities displayed on apresentation device or on the communications device. Upon access, thefirst user may select information related to the second user; forexample, the proximity of the second user to a receiving device, theavailability of the second user to receive an incoming call, the presentlocation (e.g., premises) of the second user, or other information. Thecall request to the second user may then be prepared.

At 506, if the first and second receiving devices are part of the samelocal receiving device network, the local path from 506 is followed to508 a. At 508 a, at least one communications path between the first andsecond receiving devices within the local receiving device network isdetermined based on one or more identifiers unique within the localreceiving device network. The determined communications path may then beused to pass voice communications data between the first receivingdevice and the second receiving device. In some cases, there are otherintervening receiving devices that forward the communications to andfrom the first and second receiving devices.

Alternatively at 506, if the first and second receiving devices are notpart of the same local receiving device network, the remote path from506 is followed to 508 b. At 508 b, the first receiving device proximatethe first communications device associated with the first user willaccess a server such as the computing server resource 108 of FIG. 1. Thefirst receiving device will request or otherwise retrieve one or moreidentifiers to facilitate contact with the second user through thesecond receiving device. The identifiers may include, for example, oneor more of an Internet Protocol (IP) address, an account identifier, apremises identifier, a second receiving device identifier, or some otheridentifier. The one or more identifiers can be used to address datacommunications between the first receiving device proximate the firstuser's communications device and the second receiving device proximatethe second user's communications device.

When processing begins at 510, the first receiving device proximate afirst user is operating in a PAN with the first communications deviceassociated with the first user. The first user has initiated a requestfor a voice conversation with the second user. The first receivingdevice is aware of one or more identifiers that can be used to directcommunications to the second receiving device for passage to the secondcommunications device and the second user. The first receiving devicewill retrieve information regarding the availability of the second user.The first receiving device may have a profile associated with the seconduser as discussed herein with respect FIGS. 4A and 4B and Table 1.Alternatively, the first user may access a profile associated with thesecond user stored in a computing server resource.

At 510, the first receiving device evaluates the information regardingthe availability of the second user. Referring to Table 1, theinformation may include a fourth parameter to indicate whether thesecond user is busy, a fifth parameter to indicate when the second userwill become available, a sixth parameter to indicate if the first useris permitted to request a conversation, a ninth parameter to indicatewhether the second user is watching a program and can be interrupted,and other parameters.

If the second user is unavailable, processing passes to 512 where thefirst user can wait or terminate. If the first user waits for the seconduser to become available, processing in the first receiving device willwait at 514 and then pass back to 510. Alternatively, if the first userdoes not wait, then processing may terminate at 516.

When the first user is waiting at 514, the receiving device may drawparameters from a profile associated with the second user. The firstreceiving device may set a time as discussed with respect to a timersmodule 166 in FIG. 4A. For example, in some cases, the second user maybe watching a television program or some other programming contentdelivery may be in progress to the second user, and the second user doesnot want to be disturbed. In this case, the first user may request atimer be set based on the predicted ending time of the programming beingdelivered to the second user. When the timer expires, the firstreceiving device may begin processing to begin the voice conversation.

If the second user is available at 510, processing passes to 518 whereinthe first receiving device will attempt to begin communicating with thesecond receiving to make a call. In some cases, a set of default acts inthe second receiving device will alert the second user to the callrequest. In other cases a profile associated with the second user willdirect acts that alert the second user via at least one annunciator. Forexample, if the second receiving device is actively communicatingprogramming content to a presentation device, the second receivingdevice may alert the second user through the presentation device withaudio indicators, an on-screen-display (OSD) displaying information suchas the identity of the first user, a pause in the programming contentdelivery, or some other alert. If the second communications device is ina standby mode or otherwise not delivering programming content, thesecond receiving device may wake up and begin delivering an alert to theincoming call request. Other indicators of the second receiving deviceinclude visual indicators such as LEDs illuminating, flashing, and thelike, audio indicators sounding one or more tones, tactile devicevibrating, or other indicators. Such indicators will encourage thesecond user to actively form a PAN between the second communicationsdevice and the second receiving device if such a communications path isnot already enabled.

In still other embodiments, if for example the second receiving deviceis part of a local receiving device network, the second receiving devicecan provide alerts through various home or other building automationsystems. In one case, the local receiving device network includes ZigBeedevices that conform to a ZigBee protocol. The ZigBee devices may bedirected by the second receiving device to flash lights in the premises,generate other tones, or take other actions to inform the second user ofthe incoming call request.

Alternatively, or in addition, to alerts carried out in the secondreceiving device, alerts to the incoming call from the first user may bepassed or otherwise directed in the second communications device. Thealerts may be visual, audio, or tactile as described herein.

If the second user accepts the incoming call, then the first and seconduser carry on a voice conversation at 520. Processing at 520 maycontinue for a long time. At 520, audio information is received by oneor more of the first and second communications devices. The audioinformation, which is voice conversation data, is converted to digitaldata which is then passed via the PAN to the respective receivingdevice. The respective receiving device may or may not process the voiceconversation digital data, and the voice conversation digital data ispassed through zero or more intervening components and devices to thesecond receiving device, which may further perform processing.

In some cases, processing of the voice conversation digital data in thereceiving devices may include encryption and decryption of the voiceconversation digital data. The processing may alternatively includeobfuscation, scrambling, or some other technique in one receiving devicethat is reversible in the other receiving device. Such processing may beused in wide receiving device network communications and local receivingdevice network communications.

When the voice conversation is completed, processing may be terminatedat 522.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a system to communicatevoice data over a receiving device network 600. The embodiment of FIG. 6is discussed as in FIG. 5 wherein a first user desires to engage in avoice conversation with a second user. The first user is associated witha first communications device, and the first communications device isproximate the first receiving device and may be configured to cooperatein a personal area network (PAN) with the first receiving device. Thesecond user is associated with a second communications device, and thesecond communications device is proximate the second receiving deviceand may be configured to cooperate in a PAN with the second receivingdevice. The method of FIG. 6 illustrates acts performed in the secondreceiving device.

At 602, processing begins in the second receiving device. At 604, thesecond receiving device is initialized, and the second communicationsdevice is detected. A PAN may or may not be formed between the secondreceiving device and the second communications device. Based oninformation stored in a profile in the second communications device orbased on information received, for example from a user or from thesecond communications device, the second user may be identified.

At 606, information regarding the second receiving device, the secondcommunications device, an in addition or alternative, informationregarding the second user may be posted or otherwise made available toother devices in a local or wide receiving device network. In somecircumstances, the status of the second user may indicate “unavailable.”

At 608, the second receiving device, which has indicated “available,”receives an indication from the first receiving device of an incomingcall request. The first receiving device may be communicating fromwithin a same local receiving device network or from a wide receivingdevice network.

The second receiving device will output an incoming call alert at 610.In some cases, the second receiving device is woken up from a standbymode before the call alert is output. Various mechanisms to alert thesecond user of the incoming call have been discussed herein. Themechanisms may be directed by a profile associated with the secondreceiving device. The profile may be received from the secondcommunications device, manually entered or modified by a user,communicated from a computing server resource or some other source, oraccessed, entered, or modified in some other way.

At 612, the call is answered. Answering the call may include forming anactive communications PAN between the second receiving device and thesecond communications device.

At 614, the first user and the second user participate in a voiceconversation. The respective communications devices and receivingdevices generate, process, communicate, and consume the digital voiceconversation data. Processing in 614 may last shorter than a few secondsor longer than many hours. Passing voice conversation data over a localreceiving device network and in some cases also over a wide receivingdevice network may be carried out without using any cellularcommunications voice or data plan minutes.

When the voice conversation between the first and second users ends,processing may terminate at 616.

In the foregoing description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with electronic andcomputing systems including client and server computing systems, as wellas networks have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open,inclusive sense, e.g., “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” and variations thereof means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contentclearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or”is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the contentclearly dictates otherwise.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified andchanges can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detaileddescription. In general, in the following claims, the terms used shouldnot be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construedto include all possible embodiments along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claimsare not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A receiving device system arranged todistribute voice communications, comprising: a first receiving device,the first receiving device having: a first personal area network (PAN)transceiver, the first PAN transceiver arranged for directcommunications with a selected first communications device via a firstPAN; a programming transceiver, the programming transceiver arranged toreceive multimedia content; and a first local area network (LAN)transceiver; and a second receiving device, the second receiving devicehaving: a second LAN transceiver, the second LAN transceiver arrangedfor communications with the first LAN transceiver of the firstcommunications device; and a second PAN transceiver, the second PANtransceiver arranged for direct communications with a selected secondcommunications device via a second PAN, wherein the second receivingdevice is further arranged to: accept input data via the second PAN fromthe selected second communications device, the input data associatedwith the first receiving device; initiate communications over a LAN withthe first receiving device via the second LAN transceiver; andcommunicate voice data received via the second PAN to the firstreceiving device via the LAN, wherein the first receiving device isarranged to indicate an unavailable status for a first amount of time.2. The receiving device system of claim 1 wherein the first PANtransceiver and the second PAN transceiver each follow a BLUETOOTHprotocol.
 3. The receiving device system of claim 1 wherein at least oneof the first and second PAN transceivers follows an IEEE wirelessprotocol.
 4. The receiving device system of claim 1 wherein the firstreceiving device comprises: at least one annunciator arranged toilluminate, vibrate, or output a sound to indicate a request tocommunicate from the second receiving device.
 5. The receiving devicesystem of claim 1 wherein the second receiving device comprises: atimer, the timer arranged to count down the first amount of time whereinthe second receiving device is further arrange to repeat a request tocommunicate with the first receiving device when the timer expires. 6.The receiving device system of claim 1 wherein the first receivingdevice is arranged to provide an indication when the selected firstcommunications device is in proximity of the first receiving device. 7.The receiving device system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the firstand second communications devices is a wearable computing device.
 8. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose stored contentsconfigure a computing system to perform a method to distribute voicecommunications, the method comprising: initializing a first personalarea network (PAN) transceiver of a first receiving device;communicating with the first PAN transceiver to a selected firstcommunications device via a first PAN; receiving multimedia content witha programming transceiver; initializing a first local area network (LAN)transceiver of the first receiving device; initializing a second LANtransceiver of a second receiving device, the second LAN transceiverarranged for communications with the first LAN transceiver of the firstcommunications device; initializing a second PAN transceiver of thesecond receiving device; communicating with the second PAN transceiverto a selected second communications device via a second PAN; acceptinginput data via the second PAN from the selected second communicationsdevice, the input data associated with the first receiving device;initiating communications over a LAN with the first receiving device viathe second LAN transceiver; communicating voice data received via thesecond PAN to the first receiving device via the LAN; and providing,with the first receiving device, an indication when the selected firstcommunications device is in proximity of the first receiving device. 9.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8whose stored contents configure the computing system to perform themethod, wherein the first PAN transceiver and the second PAN transceivereach follow a BLUETOOTH protocol.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium according to claim 8 whose storedcontents configure the computing system to perform the method, whereinat least one of the first and second PAN transceivers follows an IEEEwireless protocol.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium according to claim 8 whose stored contents configure thecomputing system to perform the method, the method further comprising:indicating a request to communicate from the second receiving device viaat least one annunciator arranged to illuminate, vibrate, or output asound.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium accordingto claim 8 whose stored contents configure the computing system toperform the method, wherein the first receiving device is arranged toindicate an unavailable status for a first amount of time.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12whose stored contents configure the computing system to perform themethod, the method further comprising: setting a timer, the timerarranged to count down the first amount of time; and repeating, with thesecond receiving device, a request to communicate with the firstreceiving device when the timer expires.
 14. A method to distributevoice communications, comprising: initializing a first personal areanetwork (PAN) transceiver of a first receiving device; communicatingwith the first PAN transceiver to a selected first communications devicevia a first PAN; receiving multimedia content with a programmingtransceiver; initializing a first local area network (LAN) transceiverof the first receiving device; initializing a second LAN transceiver ofa second receiving device, the second LAN transceiver arranged forcommunications with the first LAN transceiver of the firstcommunications device; initializing a second PAN transceiver of thesecond receiving device; communicating with the second PAN transceiverto a selected second communications device via a second PAN; acceptinginput data via the second PAN from the selected second communicationsdevice, the input data associated with the first receiving device;initiating communications over a LAN with the first receiving device viathe second LAN transceiver; communicating voice data received via thesecond PAN to the first receiving device via the LAN; and providing,with the first receiving device, an indication when the selected firstcommunications device is in proximity of the first receiving device. 15.The method according to claim 14, wherein the first PAN transceiver andthe second PAN transceiver each follow a BLUETOOTH protocol.
 16. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first andsecond PAN transceivers follows an IEEE wireless protocol.
 17. Themethod according to claim 14, comprising: indicating a request tocommunicate from the second receiving device via at least oneannunciator arranged to illuminate, vibrate, or output a sound.
 18. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the first receiving device isarranged to indicate an unavailable status for a first amount of time.19. The method according to claim 18, comprising: setting a timer, thetimer arranged to count down the first amount of time; and repeating,with the second receiving device, a request to communicate with thefirst receiving device when the timer expires.